ACC coaches, ADs recommend 8-game schedule

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — The Atlantic Coast Conference football coaches and athletic directors say they should play at least one major conference program every year.

Commissioner John Swofford announced Monday during the league's annual spring meetings that the coaches and ADs have recommended the conference schedule remain at eight games.

They also recommended that every school should play either Notre Dame or a team from one of the other four major conferences — the Big Ten, Big 12, Southeastern or Pac-12 conferences — during the regular season.

The schools' faculty athletic representatives will vote Thursday on the recommendation. If approved, it would take effect in 2017.

The SEC announced a similar scheduling policy last month that will take effect in 2016.

Notre Dame is in the ACC in every conference-sponsored sport except football. As part of their agreement with the league, the Fighting Irish will play four ACC teams this season, six in 2015 and five every year after that.

Most ACC teams already play at least one major-conference opponent in most seasons, including Clemson (South Carolina), Florida State (Florida), Louisville (Kentucky) and Georgia Tech (Georgia).

This year, only Wake Forest and North Carolina State do not have Notre Dame or a non-ACC major-conference opponent on the schedule. Last year, Duke joined the Wolfpack and Demon Deacons in not playing any such nonconference games.